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The right vacuum not only keeps your floors clean, but also the air. What works for a small apartment might flop in a busy household with kids and pets.
To help you find your perfect cleaning companion, we've tested over 250 vacuum cleaners of all types, running them through tough, real-world tests. We set out to see how well they clean, contain dust, and handle in day-to-day use. Whether you're after something powerful, portable, or pet-friendly, we've got you covered.
The best vacuum for most people is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. It ditches the pesky cord, giving you the freedom to clean quickly and easily but doesn't sacrifice cleaning performance.
If your top goal is deep cleaning, we recommend the Shark Stratos — it delivers top-tier results on both carpets and hard floors, while its HEPA filter keeps dust and allergens from re-entering the air.
The best value in vacuums today is the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse — it is a more affordable option that still impressed in our cleaning tests.
Who It's Best For: If you're after top-notch cleaning performance and lightweight portability, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless is the best of both worlds. Its cordless design means you can just grab and go—no cords to untangle, no outlets to track down. And with the ability to reach spots traditional vacuums usually struggle with—like stairs, under furniture, and even out in the car—it offers more than just convenience, it's a versatile cleaner for your whole home, and then some.
Why We Love It: The freedom from the cord and slim design is such a contrast to the clunky models we're used to; we couldn't believe how quickly we finished our chores. We particularly liked the hinged wand, which helps you reach under furniture without bending. “It honestly saved my back,” said our lead tester, Rachael. It still has a small dustbin, but it empties into a larger base station, which keeps everything contained and cuts down on how often you have to deal with a cloud of dust when dumping out.
Should You Buy It? The Shark PowerDetect is perfect for the day-to-day messes and quick spot cleans, but fine dirt that has settled into carpet will need the power of an upright. Still, it is more than capable of most cleaning jobs, and the added convenience is something we can't stop raving about. There's also the inevitable limitation of battery life; it runs short, which means you may need to clean in segments if you have a larger home, something that could be frustrating for some. All in all, we think this vacuum deserves a spot in most homes due to its exceptional cleaning performance and ready-to-go convenience.
Who It's Best For: If you want the freedom of a cordless vacuum without investing your whole paycheck, the Smoture VAC01 stands out among the budget options. It's perfect if you live in an apartment, a dorm, or just have a smaller place with mostly hard floors or low-pile carpet. Its thin design and low-maintenance upkeep make it great for those who want vacuuming to be easier. While it may not be ideal for shag carpets or homes with pets, it's a great choice if you're looking for a budget-friendly option.
Why We Love It: It shines on hard surfaces, cleaning nearly perfectly in most of our cleaning trials. We were surprised by how the vacuum head grips onto carpet, helping it pick up larger crumbs and spills and leaving our carpets looking refreshed. We also appreciate the large dustbin; it lets us vacuum the house without needing to stop and empty it, unlike many other slim stick vacuums. “It's easy to pick up and carry upstairs, too,” noted another tester, just one more perk of a cordless stick vacuum.
Should You Buy It? If you're after a high-performing, budget-friendly stick vacuum, the Smoture VAC01 is it. Like many budget vacuums, it struggles with shag or thicker rugs and has a tough time pulling out embedded pet hair—areas where similarly priced corded models tend to perform better. Still, while the limited suction makes it less ideal as your main vacuum, it's a solid choice for routine touch-ups and everyday messes. For the price, you're getting a lot of practical value and ease of use.
Who It's Best For: The Shark Stratos is a powerhouse upright vacuum that gets the deep clean done. Not only that, but it gets it done with few passes and can effectively clean multiple floor types. The Stratos handles high-traffic areas and pet hair with ease, and its strong filtration makes it a smart pick for anyone with allergies or asthma. If you don't mind lugging it up the stairs, we think this vacuum is worthy of just about any larger household that needs an occasional deep clean.
Why We Love It: During testing, this vacuum impressed us with its strong cleaning across all surfaces, especially hardwood, where it often cleared debris in just a single pass. The HEPA filter works wonders, reducing more harmful particles in the air than any other vacuum we tested. “While I know it can't match the agility of a stick vacuum,” noted one of our testers, “it stands out among other uprights thanks to its smooth glide, tight swivel steering, and rollers that I felt nearly propel it forward.” The detachable canister added welcome versatility for us as we were actually able to clean under furniture, as many uprights simply cannot.
Should You Buy It? If your home demands powerful, whole-house cleaning and you don't mind a larger machine, the Stratos is an excellent choice. It's not ideal for plush rugs, where it needs multiple passes, and the fixed brush roller makes clearing tangled hair more frustrating. But for mixed flooring and homes that need serious cleaning power, the Stratos stands out for its cleaning performance and surprising ease of use.
There are so many things to love about this vacuum: superior filtration, great roller head design, and this Lift-Away feature makes it actually possible to clean under your furniture.
Who It's Best For: If you're looking to spend a little less on a traditional upright, the no-frills Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse is our recommendation. It performs among (and often above) the most premium options, effortlessly cleaning carpet, hardwood, and pet hair. At around $200, this vacuum is great for anyone who wants a smaller, compact upright. While it skips the bells and whistles of high-end models, if you simply want a vacuum with the best overall performance for the price, this is it.
Why We Love It: This vacuum stood out in testing for its ability to handle everything from fine dirt to large debris like cereal—something many budget vacuums struggle with. Instead of pushing messes around, the vacuum head uses wide openings to let larger debris reach the brush roller, while at the other end of the spectrum, the bristles help loosen and lift difficult material like sand. This successful design gave it better overall cleaning performance than most uprights in its class, including “surprisingly effective pickup on shag carpet—a surface where I find many vacuums fall short,” noted our lead tester, Rachael.
Should You Buy It? It is hard to beat the price and performance of the QuickShift. But there are a few compromises. It doesn't steer as smoothly as higher-end uprights, and it lacks the sleek look and durable feel of more premium models. One of its standout features is a rail that allows the canister to slide up and down for better access under furniture, but it felt a bit underwhelming and finicky in practice. We recommend this model to friends who don't care about the premium extras and just want a reliable cleaner at an affordable price. That simple.
Who It Is Best For: The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Powerline is great for those with mostly hard floors who want powerful, reliable cleaning without the bulk of an upright. If you don't mind pulling a canister behind you, you'll have the freedom of a lightweight wand that can reach up high and under furniture. The large dustbin means less frequent filter bag changes. Plus, the impressive filtration system is great for allergy sufferers.
Why We Love It: It delivered the strongest suction we've ever measured in our lab, making it a standout among all vacuum types. That power translated to excellent hard floor performance, with visible results after just one pass. Its oversized 4.5-liter bag held far more than most, “meaning I needed fewer emptying trips—and because it's a bagged model, there were no clouds of dust to deal with!” exclaimed one of our testers who is sensitive to dust. While pulling the canister took us a while to get used to, the lightweight wand was a perk compared to an upright, giving us the ability to clean under and on top of furniture easily.
Should You Buy It? If you have a lot of hard floors and not a lot of stairs, this vacuum is for you. Carpet performance isn't its strong suit, largely because it lacks a motorized roller to help agitate fibers of the carpet, so fine debris like rice or sand takes a few extra passes to fully lift, but it still gets the job done If you're looking for something built to last, easy to maintain, and serious suction power, this vacuum provides a niche need for homes with mostly hard flooring.
Who It Is Best For: If you're managing a busy household where crumbs, dirt, and pet hair seem to reappear the moment you clean them, the Roborock Q5 Max+ can seriously lighten the load. It's all about keeping your floors in check day after day, so those big cleanups don't feel so overwhelming. It's also one of the more affordable models we've tested that you can actually rely on, not just to clean well, but to do it without constantly getting stuck or needing your help. A great fit for families, pet owners, or anyone who wants to stay ahead of daily messes without constantly worrying about them.
Why We Love It: It topped our cleaning performance charts, picking up more debris overall than any other robot we tested. While it easily handles big, visible messes and leaves your floors looking clean, we were even more impressed by how much embedded dirt and dander it pulled from carpets up close. You don't have to empty the vacuum after every run either, thanks to the auto-empty dock, which cuts down how often you need to deal with cleanup. And while other apps glitched or dropped connections, the Roborock app stayed smooth and responsive, something we really appreciated after how frustrating the others could be to use.
Should You Buy It? This vacuum isn't the smartest out there; it doesn't have advanced sensors or cameras, so it can miss smaller items like socks or cords left on the floor. Every now and then, you might find it stuck and asking for help, which can leave the cleaning job unfinished. It also doesn't include a mop, which is becoming more common as companies roll out hybrid models. That said, in our experience, vacuuming performance often takes a hit on those mop-vac combos. With a typical sale price around $400, it's not exactly cheap, but it's still one of the more affordable robot vacuums you can count on. Ultimately, it comes down to how much you value convenience, but if you're ready to take the leap into the world of automated cleaning, this is the vacuum we'd recommend for most homes.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ constantly impressed us during our testing over the months. It cleaned pet fur and deeply embedded dirt, an impressive feat for such a small vacuum.
Who It Is Best For: If you're just starting to dip your toes into the world of robot vacuums and don't want to mess with apps, learning curves, or simply can't afford the staggering price tags, the Eufy 11S Max is a great way in. It's especially helpful for smaller homes or apartments that get dusty quickly, or for people who just want to space out deep cleans with a helper. It does the basics, scoops up daily crumbs, pet fur, and dirt, and does them better than most vacuums in its price range. Just be prepared to tidy up a bit beforehand; it needs a relatively clear path to do its thing.
Why We Love It: This little robot impressed us with how much it could clean, especially considering its simple design. On hard floors, it handled everything from fine dust to larger bits like rice and cereal without issue. Carpet performance was better than expected too—especially given the lack of smart mapping. It doesn't follow a perfect path, but with enough time, it covers the space well and leaves floors looking noticeably cleaner. It even hugged walls and edges better than some pricier models, thanks to a hardworking edge brush. For daily upkeep between deeper cleans, it's a solid and dependable performer.
Should You Buy It? If you're okay with keeping things simple and doing a little extra prep, the Eufy 11S Max can be a great cleaning sidekick. Just know it comes with some trade-offs. Without a self-emptying dock, you'll need to empty the dustbin yourself after every few runs. And since it doesn't have smart sensors or object detection, it gets tripped up by socks, toys, flip flops—pretty much anything left on the floor. That means you'll want to do a thorough cleanup before you set it loose, or be ready to rescue it mid-clean, which gets old fast. But if you're willing to work with its limitations, it's one of the better budget models out there for keeping floors looking decent between your deep cleans.
Measured Robot Height: 2.9" | Robot Noise Level: 51.3 dB
Who It's Best For: If your home is full of thick carpets and area rugs, the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is one of the best-performing vacuums we've ever tested. This model topped our carpet tests—especially on high-pile rugs, where almost every other vacuum we tested struggled. It's a strong choice for users who prioritize deep carpet cleaning above all else and don't mind managing a bagged system to get top-tier results.
Why We Love It: Our team is particularly impressed with how well it picked up deeply embedded debris like rice and sand. It also handled larger debris without pushing it forward, which is a common issue in other uprights. The vacuum was easy to maneuver for its size, and the generously sized dust bag meant fewer interruptions during cleaning.
Should You Buy It? If carpet is your top priority, this upright is your best bet, and a strong value, making it an easy recommendation. It's not the best fit for homes with pets, where it struggled with fur pickup, or for hard floors, where it occasionally left debris behind. While the need to replace bags adds some long-term cost, the benefit is a cleaner disposal process. Its design may feel a bit old-school, and maneuverability declines as the bag gets filled, but if your main goal is tackling thick carpet, nothing in our testing performed better.
Who It's Best For: If your home is mostly bare floors, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a smart, affordable pick. Since bare floors don't require as much suction or agitation as carpets, we found this vacuum's simple design works remarkably well. In our canister vacuum review, it stood out for delivering strong cleaning results without the need for a powerful motor or premium price tag.
Why We Love It: The Mighty Mite picked up 99% of debris in our hard floor tests, effortlessly handling large particles and stuck-on dirt. Its stiff bristles and wide opening make quick work of messes. Unlike most vacuums that clean best when pushed forward, this one picks up more effectively when pulled back. “It felt a little odd at first, but I got used to it quickly,” noted our lead tester, Lesley. The foot-activated bristle control makes it easy to switch between surfaces without stopping, but one of the best things about this vacuum is how lightweight and compact it is. We found it much easier to store and maneuver than bulkier canister models.
Should You Buy It? If you mostly need a vacuum for bare floors and don't want to pay a premium price, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a great value. It's not built for carpets—there's no brush roller, and the wand can loosen occasionally—but for everyday messes on hard surfaces, it offers efficient, reliable performance under $100.
The Mighty Mite is small, but certainly mighty with its effective cleaning power on hard surfaces and pet fur. We also like that it's not as bulky and heavy as a conventional canister.
Who It's Best For: At one end is the no-frills Eureka Mighty Mite; at the other, the Dyson V15 Detect offers the ultimate luxurious package for your hard surface cleaning needs. This vacuum is for the person who wants it all. It's got all the bells and whistles like adjustable cleaning suction, specialized floor heads, and a slew of attachments that someone would want from a premium price tag, making it a vacuum that will help you out, and honestly, fun to use.
Why We Love It: One of the coolest features we've seen recently in vacuum testing is the laser head on this vacuum. “Designed specifically for hard surfaces, it lights up the floor, revealing tiny dust particles I didn't even know existed,” noted one of our vacuum specialists. “This helped me spot and target the areas that needed attention the most.” It's also surprisingly powerful for a stick vacuum, too. Most of the time, one pass was enough to get the job done, and the soft, fluffy brush left the floors looking polished and super clean.
Should You Buy It? If you don't mind investing in this product, the Dyson V15 Detect will leave your hard floors and carpets nice and clean. Because the motor is large for a stick vacuum and there's a trigger you need to hold, it can feel fatiguing to use just after a short time. However, this vacuum cleans efficiently—most of the time, I only needed one pass on hard surfaces, which really cuts down how long I have to spend using it. Ultimately, we love this vacuum and full-heartedly recommend it for most flooring, especially bare floors that need constant cleaning, as long as you're okay with the investment.
Who It's Best For: If you're dealing with pet hair across floors, furniture, and stairs, the Shark Rotator LA502 is a versatile upright vacuum that's especially well-suited for pet owners. It stood out not just for its excellent carpet cleaning, but for its ability to handle fur throughout the home—something many vacuums struggle to do well. It's ideal for users who want strong, consistent performance, with uninterrupted power and a large dustbin—built to work through every room and capture every last strand of pet hair.
Why We Love It: This model includes a motorized brush attachment and a detachable base, making it easier to clean pet beds, stairs, and upholstery—areas where fur tends to collect. While I like cordless stick or handheld vacuums for these tight spaces, they come with limitations in battery life and dustbin size. The Rotator offers a more robust alternative, delivering powerful suction, larger capacity, and better runtime for deeper cleaning sessions—the kind most of us rely on when tackling the messes our furry friends leave behind.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for one vacuum that can handle pet hair on carpets, hard floors, and furniture, this vacuum delivers excellent value. It's not without a few drawbacks—its canister mode doesn't power the main floor head, so you'll need to stick to the attachment provided, and some fine debris like sand remained on the filter during testing—but those are minor compromises for a machine this capable. For pet owners tired of underpowered vacuums that leave strands of fur everywhere, this compact yet powerful model offers a whole-home solution.
Pet owners will rejoice at seeing the Rotator's ability to suck up fur. This vacuum performed exceptionally well on low-pile carpets and upholstery, surpassing others in our testing.
Who It Is Best For: The Samsung Bespoke Jet is ideal for anyone who wants a vacuum that keeps things cleaner—not just on the floor, but throughout the entire cleaning process. It's a great match for allergy sufferers or anyone who's tired of dealing with the mess and dust clouds that come with emptying traditional vacuums. If your home has mostly hard floors or low-pile carpet and you want a low-maintenance, hygienic cleaning routine from start to finish, this vacuum fits the bill.
Why We Love It: What makes this vacuum stand out is its focus on cleanliness throughout the entire process, not just while vacuuming, but during emptying, too. Its self-emptying station transfers debris into a sealed bag at the push of a button, keeping dust and allergens contained. As one tester put it, “The bag can be easily removed and discarded, avoiding the typical plume of dust that explodes when I empty a bagless canister.” It's a thoughtful system that made the vacuum feel more hygienic and hassle-free in day-to-day use.
Should You Buy It? It's pricier than most cordless models, and you'll need to replace the dust bags occasionally. The dock also takes up more space than a standard charging station, and we would've preferred a larger dust bag to cut down on trips to the trash. It also struggled a bit with pet hair on thicker rugs, though its strong suction helps lift stubborn debris—it just takes a few extra passes. Ultimately, your home should be a safe space with clean air—and the Bespoke Jet is a tool that helps make that possible.
There's nothing more rewarding than pushing the button on the Samsung station and seeing the dust and dirt drop from the stick dust bin without having to touch it.
Who It's Best For: If your main vacuum struggles to reach into car crevices, stairs, or windowsills, the Black+Decker Furbuster AdvanceClean+ fills that gap with power and portability. It's particularly useful for pet owners and parents dealing with constant spot messes, especially when hauling out a full-size vacuum feels like overkill.
Why We Love It: “Its strong suction and motorized brush tool gave it a clear edge over other handhelds in my testing,” noted Rachael, our lead tester for this vacuum category, “especially when tackling fur and stubborn debris.” The integrated crevice tool made it easy to reach into tight corners, and the relatively large bin emptied cleanly with a single button press—a similar design to stick vacuums and an upgrade compared to so many awkward bin designs of other handhelds.
Should You Buy It? It won't replace a full-size vacuum—and it's not meant to—but its solid cleaning power, versatile attachments, and user-friendly design make it more than just a convenience tool. “The battery limits long sessions, and the frame's a bit bulkier than ideal,” noted another tester, “but in practice, I rarely felt held back.” It also costs far less than stepping up to a full cordless stick, making it a smart supplement if you already have a reliable primary vacuum. If your routine is missing a targeted spot cleaner, this one's an easy add that's worth it.
Who It's Best For: The Milwaukee M18 0880-20 is a great fit for contractors, DIYers, or anyone needing a rugged, no-fuss shop vac that handles ANY wet or dry mess. It's especially useful for jobsites, garages, or workshop spaces where cleanup includes a mix of soaked carpets, sawdust, and heavy debris. If you want a vacuum that doesn't need to be babied and can tackle a wide range of messes, this one delivers—without the bulk of traditional rolling shop vacs.
Why We Love It: Its compact, toolbox-style design makes transport and storage easier than most shop vacs, and the onboard hose routing is a standout feature. As our lead tester, Austin Palmer, noted, “The hose routing runs straight into the can—a far better design than the clog-prone elbow I tested on other models.” Add to that the integrated self-retracting hose and onboard tool storage, and you've got a smart, streamlined machine that was well thought out.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for a powerful, portable vacuum that skips the bells and whistles in favor of strong performance and solid design, this shop vac is worth the price. That said, its runtime is shorter than average, and it struggled with standing water due to a less-than-ideal floor attachment, not a lack of power. It's heavier than I thought, especially since I needed to lift it rather than roll it around my garage. Still, its 91-inch hose offsets that somewhat by minimizing how often you need to move it.
Once you go beyond simple messes around the house or need a reliable vacuum to handle tough debris in the workshop, reach for the M18. It can handle the worst of the worst.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How We Tested
Our vacuum testing process is extensive, involving more than 25 individual tests to determine which product is the best in key performance areas such as cleaning of carpets, hard floors, and how well each product handles edges and corners. We also carefully measure filtration system performance, measuring how well each vacuum helps deliver better home air quality by containing fine dust, pollen, and pet dander particles in its collection system.
We conduct more than 25 vacuuming performance tests on each product.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We also evaluate how easy each product is to maneuver around furniture, how smoothly it transitions between surfaces, and how simple it is to empty or maintain. Lastly, We measure a variety of other things you might find interesting, like noise level, battery life, and weight. Please refer to our article covering How We Tested Vacuums for more detailed information.
We begin by identifying the most common cleaning challenges in real homes, then design a thorough review process to see how well each vacuum tackles those issues.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
Jessica Riconscente is GearLab's Vacuum Editor. She has tested every vacuum category, logging hundreds of hours in the lab cleaning up carefully measured messes. In Jessica's words, “There's no category I rely on more than vacuums; I count on my own lineup daily to tackle relentless dog hair and the dirt I drag in from my outdoor adventures.”
Austin Palmer, Senior Review Analyst, has been at the forefront of vacuum testing from our humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. He is our most experienced tester at GearLab, having tested more than 100 categories and knows vacuums inside and out, especially with two kids at home putting them to the test daily. His sharp eye helps us spot real performance, whether in the lab or mid–cereal spill.
Rachael Lamore, Review Analyst, is the mastermind behind our new testing protocols. She has been working hard to provide numbers for all our testing to give a clean comparison of performances. Her technical background working in laboratories helped garner a systematic approach to our testing in our in-house facility. Her strong attention to detail ensures each and every product is held to the same standard.
In the past few years, our team has completely updated our vacuum testing—from top to bottom—to give you the clearest, most accurate reviews possible.
How to Decide on a Vacuum
The Different Types of Vacuums
Our review focuses on six main types of vacuums - upright, cordless stick, canister, robot, handheld, and shop. While handheld and shop vacuums might have a more niche market, you might find yourself wondering, “Which type of vacuum should I get?” We are here to help, and below we have broken these down.
Shown here are upright, cordless stick, canister, and robot vacuums. Each has its pros and cons to consider, and choosing the right type can greatly impact the cleaning performance in your home.
Upright Vacuums Big cleaning power, smaller price tag.
The plug-in design of upright vacuums delivers consistent power without the hassle of battery upkeep, making them reliable workhorses, especially for deep carpet cleaning where steady suction matters most. Though heavier and less maneuverable on stairs or in tight corners, their large dustbins and powerful performance are well-suited for families tackling high-traffic areas and thick rugs.
REASONS TO BUY
Large dustbin is ideal for bigger homes
Best on carpet, especially for deep cleans
Excellent filtration that can be beneficial for allergies
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky and heavy
Not the easiest to clean stairs with
Cordless Stick Vacuums Lightweight, quick, and incredibly handy.
Cordless stick vacuums offer unmatched convenience, letting you clean freely without a cord and convert to handheld mode for tight spots like stairs or car seats. Their slim, lightweight build is great for quick cleanups and small spaces—but expect a higher price, shorter battery life, and smaller dustbins, making them less ideal for deep cleaning big homes.
REASONS TO BUY
Great for frequent, quick cleanups
Best in small spaces
Cord-free convenience makes it easy to tackle stairs
REASONS TO AVOID
Small dustbin means frequent emptying
Needs to be recharged
Canister Vacuums Power in the back, control up front.
Canisters combine powerful suction with a lighweight wand, best suited for hard floors and overhead cleaning. They aren't great for carpet since most lack a roller to agitate fibers. While the base is bulkier than other types, it takes the weight out of your hands, ideal for users who want deep cleaning without the arm strain of an upright.
REASONS TO BUY
Ideal for hard floors
Reaches high and under furniture
Strong suction
REASONS TO AVOID
Not great on carpet
The canister gets dragged behind and stairs can be tricky
Robot Vacuums The day-to-day robo helper.
Over the past few years, robot vacuums have made their way into many households, and for good reason. Set a schedule, and they'll tidy while you relax. They don't offer deep-cleaning power and require a clutter-free environment, but they can save you lots of time.
REASONS TO BUY
Great for daily upkeep
Scheduled automation and hands-free cleaning
Reaches under furniture
REASONS TO AVOID
Not a deep cleaner
Doesn't work on high pile carpet
Must tidy before vacuum cycle begins
Robot vacuums are an excellent choice for those needing an extra hand around the house. We tested all of the best options on the market to find the ones that excel.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
What Type of Flooring Do You Have?
Mostly carpet: Opt for an upright, cordless stick (if you don't have a huge space), or a canister with a motorized spinning brush head. If you have high pile, or shag, uprights perform the best, though this tends to be a struggle point for most vacuums.
Mostly hard floors: Canisters are best as they have the strongest suction, but many stick vacuums are also worthy. For single-story homes with all hardwood flooring, we tend to lean towards the canister. However, if you have stairs or prefer portability, a cordless stick will be your best bet.
Mixed flooring: If you have roughly equal carpet and hard flooring, it is worth finding an option that can handle both. Some include modes to turn off the brush roller for hardwood, but keep it on for carpet. Some premium models even have a power detection feature that ramps up the power based on the floor type. Our recommendation is to take a look the vacuums that scored well across all floor types.
Below, we show how each model did during our testing on low pile carpet, high pile carpet, and hard flooring.
Cleaning Performance Across Floor Types
Product
Low Pile
High Pile
Hardwood
Kenmore Intuition Upright
97
73
84
Eureka OmniVerse Upright
92
65
94
Shark Stratos Upright
97
52
97
Miele Classic C1 Canister
91
54
100
Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight
90
56
96
Dyson V15 Detect
94
49
97
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister
88
49
99
Samsung Bespoke Jet
94
47
95
Shark Rotator
88
50
94
Smoture VAC01
87
42
85
Pet Owners: What to Look For
As pet owners, we know the struggle of dealing with the endless shedding of our furry family members. To fight back against pet hair, your best bet is a vacuum with:
A brush head featuring stiff bristles that can grab those stubborn strands
Strong suction to lift clumps of hair
Brush roller that doesn't tangle hair
In our tests, we found uprights to do best at collecting pet hair. This is because upright vacuums have rolling brush heads and large enough canisters to contain the hair. While cordless stick vacuums often do well at cleaning pet hair, the canister needs to be emptied more frequently. A combination of a robot vacuum and a cordlesss or upright can make a huge impact on the fur floating around your house too. Between deeper cleans, the robot can tackle the daily shedding, which our testers note as a "huge win for pet owners!"
We use an overflowing handful of real fur (some from our helpers above) to conduct our pet hair tests. We massage every strand into carpets to replicate what many pet owners see in their homes on a daily basis.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Breathe Easy: Understanding Filtration
Dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens can accumulate on floors and furniture, exacerbating respiratory issues for allergy-prone individuals. A high-quality filtration system guarantees that these particles are captured and sealed within the vacuum, improving air quality and reducing allergic reactions.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, filtration should be a priority for you. Look for a vacuum that has:
HEPA filtration (or similar) to trap dander and allergens
Sealed system to ensure allergens stay in the vacuum, not released back into the air
More on Filtration High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are often marketed as the gold standard, but they're not the only path to top-tier filtration. While HEPA certification does guarantee strong performance, some proprietary systems can match—or even outperform it. For instance, the Levoit cordless vacuum uses an impressive multi-stage filtration setup that recorded particle levels lower than some HEPA models in our testing.
We place a third of a cup of flour on the floor and vacuum it up while these two Dylos meters measure how much fine dust gets released into the air - giving us a clear idea of how well each vacuum contains our mess.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
During filtration testing, we track the amount of small airborne particles (ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 microns), as these can be harmful to humans. Generally, the lower the count, the better. As a reference, Dylos, a specialist in air quality monitoring, refers to readings of 75 count or lower as excellent air quality and at the end of the other spectrum, any reading over 3,000 particles as very poor.
Filtration Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Average Particle Count
HEPA
Filtration Score
Shark Stratos
Upright
9
Excellent
Eureka QuickShift
Upright
15
Excellent
Shark Rotator
Upright
18
Excellent
Kenmore Intuition
Upright
26
Excellent
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Cordless Stick
41
Excellent
Shark PowerDetect
Cordless Stick
49
Excellent
Dyson V15 Detect
Cordless Stick
55
Excellent
Miele Classic C1
Canister
57
Excellent
Smoture VAC01
Cordless Stick
129
Very Good
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
335
✖
Fair
Most vacuums do a great job to contain the debris they suck up. However, broad trends show that some budget options are prone to leakages, causing a spike in particulate counts and raising concerns that you should be aware of. Each canister, cordless stick, and upright vacuum is tested in our lab, with results shared on the product's review page and compared against others in its category within our best-in-class review. To learn more information on our new testing, head to our article on how we test each vacuum.
What About Suction Power?
Suction power plays an important role in how well a vacuum removes dirt, allergens, and debris—especially from carpets—but it's not the only factor. Filtration, brush design, and how well the vacuum seals to the floor also impact overall cleaning performance. And while cordless stick vacuums were once seen as underpowered, many modern models now come surprisingly close to matching the suction of traditional vacuums.
We constructed a new testing platform to measure the suction power for all vacuums. A differential pressure meter connected by a hose is positioned on the underside of a small hole in the middle of the platform. Measurement units are taken in inches of water that we've converted to pascals to compare vacuum results better.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Our testing shows suction power varies more by brand than vacuum type, with premium models like Miele and Dyson reaching thousands of pascals, far above budget models that barely top 200. Higher suction can sometimes make a vacuum harder to push or steer, especially on carpet. If that's a concern, look for models with adjustable suction or height settings to help balance cleaning power with maneuverability.
Suction Power Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Output
Miele Classic C1
Canister
3957 pascals
Dyson V15 Detect
Cordless Stick
2239 pascals
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
1767 pascals
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Cordless Stick
1194 pascals
Shark Rotator
Upright
572 pascals
Shark Stratos
Upright
547 pascals
Eureka QuickShift
Upright
398 pascals
Shark PowerDetect
Cordless Stick
373 pascals
Smoture VAC01
Cordless Stick
249 pascals
Kenmore Intuition
Upright
174 pascals
What Makes a Vacuum a Good Value?
Beyond the price tag, the real value of a vacuum comes from how well it fits into your routine, making cleaning faster, easier, and less of a hassle.
Lightweight & Maneuverable: Vacuums that are easy to move reduce fatigue and make cleaning less of a chore.
Versatility Saves Time: Models that adapt—like stick vacuums that convert to handhelds or uprights with extended reach—can eliminate the need for extra tools.
Attachments Expand Use: Extra tools help you clean more than just floors, making the vacuum more useful throughout the home. Look at the whole package when you're about to purchase, as these little extras can go a long way.
Maintenance Adds Up: Bagless vacuums save money over time but can be messier to empty versus bagged models are cleaner but require ongoing bag purchases. Washable filters reduce the cost of replacements and are more budget-friendly in the long term.
Portability, versatility, attachments, and maintenance can make a huge difference in the vacuum you choose.
Conclusion
When it comes to buying vacuums, it's important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, especially if your home features a variety of surfaces and cleaning needs. While some vacuums excel in specific tasks, such as deep carpet cleaning or quick daily sweeps, others are designed for specialized jobs like cleaning up wet messes or tackling pet hair. In many cases, having an arsenal of vacuums can be the most effective approach to staying fully equipped for any situation.
There's plenty to choose from our lineup!
Credit: Abriah Wofford
—Jessica Riconscente, Rachael Lamore, and Austin Palmer
